Calling all Art Farts

Let's go to this.

Palazzo Barberini, on Via delle Quattro Fontane, presents an event on the evening of 19 September in honour of the renaissance painter Raphael (1483 – 1520). To celebrate the inauguration of the recently restored gallery, the public's focus will be centred on one of the highlights of the collection, Raphael's enigmatic painting La Fornarina. Known in English as Portrait of a Young Woman, the protaganist is believed by many to have been Raphael's mistress, Margherita Luti.

The €5 million project undertaken by the ministry of cultural heritage two years ago has seen the renovation of the gallery's ground floor and first floor, including the Salone Grande, Sala dei Marmi and Sala Ovale.

Built in the first half of the 17th century for the Barberini family, three architects were involved in the building's design. The first was Carlo Maderno, who began work in 1627 and was assisted by his nephew Francesco Borromini, while it was Gian Lorenzo Bernini who oversaw the building's completion in 1633. Until recently, in addition to the palazzo being home to the state-run National Gallery of Ancient Art, a section of the building was used by the officer's club of the Italian armed forces.

As part of the programme of events for the public on 19 September, visitors will be offered free guided tours of Palazzo Barberini, beginning at 18.00. [that's six o'clock in the civilised world]

National Gallery of Ancient Art, Palazzo Barberini, Via delle Quattro Fontane 13, Rome,

tel. 0632810.

www.galleriaborghese.it/barberini